Complete Blood Count

Question 1

Light Blue Tube

Answer 1

Sodium citrate (anticoag) 
For coagulation tests

Question 2

Lavender Tube

Answer 2

EDTA (anticoag)

For CBCs because it preserves cell morphology

Question 3

Green Tubes

Answer 3

Heparin (anticoag)

Used for HCT and HGB

Question 4

WBC Count

Answer 4

4.5 to 11 x 10^3/uL

Question 5

RBC Count

Answer 5

Male: 4.0 to 5.5 x10^6/uL
Female: 4.0 to 5.0 x 10^6/uL

Question 6

Retic Count

Answer 6

0.5 to 2% of RBC count

25 to 75 x 10^3/uL

Question 7

Hematocrit (HCT)

Answer 7

Male: 42 to 52%
Female: 36 to 46%

Question 8

Hemoglobin (HGB)

Answer 8

Male: 14 to 17.4 g/dL
Female: 12 to 16 g/dL

Question 9

Platelet Count

Answer 9

150 to 400 x 10^3/uL

Question 10

Rule of 3s

Answer 10

RBC count x 3 = HGB

HGB x 3 = HCT

Question 11

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Answer 11

Gives the average size of RBCs
Used to distinguish between macrocytic, normocytic, and microcytic anemias
HCT/RBC x 10
80 to 100 fL

Question 12

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

Answer 12

Gives the average amount of hemoglobin per RBC
Can be decreased in states of decreased HGB synthesis, but can remain normal when RBC count and HGB decrease proportionally
HGB/RBC x 10
28 to 34 pg/cell

Question 13

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

Answer 13

Gives the average amount of hemoglobin per volume of packed RBCs
Used to distinguish normochromic and hypochromic anemias
HGB/HCT x 100
32 to 36 g/dL

Question 14

RBC Distribution Width (RDW)

Answer 14

Gives you how much variation there is in your RBC size

<15% is normal

Question 15

Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)

Answer 15

Gives the average size of your platelets
Larger platelets are produced when a greater need for platelets exist
6.8 to 10.2 fL

Question 16

WBC Differential

Answer 16

Neutrophil: 40 to 80%
Lymphocyte: 25 to 35%
Monocyte: 2 to 10%
Eosinophil: 0 to 5%
Basophil: 0 to 1%